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Swine Project

In the 4-H Swine projects, you will learn:

• how to identify breeds and select quality animals;
• best practices for animal care and management;
• safe and ethical practices for animal welfare;
• fiitting and showing skills;
• how to promote the swine industry and its products; and
• skills such as decision-making, getting along with others, self-responsibility, planning and organizing, and improving your knowledge of general science and technology.

Project Materials (For Youth Ages 8-18)

These two series offer you the opportunity to learn about breeds and body parts, preparing a swine for show, designing a swine operation, and introduce you to swine careers.

Member and Leader Manuals (Ages 8-18)

Some 4-H projects are online! CLICK HERE: Swine Project

Swine 1
SW1 A    The Incredible Pig
SW1 B    Swine Project Book 1  
SW1 R    Swine Record Book 1    

Swine 2
SW2 A    Putting the Oink in Pig
SW2 B    Swine Project Book 2  
SW2 R    Swine Record Book 1        

Swine 3
SW3 A    Going Whole Hog
SW3 B    Swine Project Book 2  
SW3 R    Swine Record Book 2             

Swine - Helper's Guides
SW H    Helper's Guide           

SWINE Level 1

• The Incredible Pig explores breeds, swine body parts and the swine digestive system as well as judging market hogs, examining a healthy pig, identifying pork cuts, practicing fitting and showing. Available through National 4-H Council.
• Swine Project Book I teaches young members about the beginning stages of owning a pig. This book is illustrated with comics and is easy to understand. The accompanying Swine Project Record Book I (see below) is to be used with this manual. In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 198.
• Swine Record Book I enables those with hog projects to accurately keep expense records, inventory, and feed records on their pigs. In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 046.

SWINE Level 2

• Putting the Oink in Pig teaches how to manage baby pigs, balance a ration and prepare pork as well as exploring swine diseases, discovering swine careers and packing a show box. Available through National 4-H Council.  
• Swine Project Book II teaches members about an understanding of swine breeding, production and management practices, feeding, and meat production. The accompanying Swine Project Record Book I is (see below).  In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 222
• Swine Record Book I enables those with hog projects to accurately keep expense records, inventory, and feed records on their pigs. In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 046.

SWINE Level 3

• Going Whole Hog teaches about planning a breeding system, judging breeding gilts and designing a swine operation as well as completing a job application, exploring career opportunities and international markets. Available through National 4-H Council.  
• Swine Project Book II teaches members about an understanding of swine breeding, production and management practices, feeding, and meat production. The accompanying Swine Project Record Book II is (see below).  In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 222
• Swine Record Book II enables those with hog projects to accurately keep expense records, inventory, and feed records on their pigs. record book includes a form to take into account the amount of money borrowed to raise your pig. The companion to this record book is Swine Project Manual Book II (4H SWM 11).  In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 047.

SWINE Leader/Helper Guide

• This Helper''s Guide will help you support youth in his or her efforts to set goals and complete activities, as well as providing resources for the member's to use in completing the series. Available through National 4-H Council.

Supplemental Materials:

General Beef Publications

The Florida 4-H Hog and Ham Program
This is a swine project and record book for 4-H members ages 11 and up who participate in the Hog and Ham Program. To participate, you must be 11 by September 1 of the current year. This project book is to be filled out upon the completion of the Hog and Ham Program. For more information on the Hog and Ham Program please visit the University of Florida Animal Science web site: http://www.animal.ufl.edu/youth/livestock/HogHam.shtml.

Selecting Pigs for Youth Swine Shows
 This is an animal science publication for 4-H members ages 9 and over. This reference manual will help youth select hogs for show and also guide members through feeding their hog and the topic of weight gain.  In EDIS this publication is DLN 4H 210.

Beef, Sheep, and Swine Selection and Evaluation - Ohio State University
You may need this optional resource written for beginners when selecting and evaluating livestock.  Order it only once and refer to it when selecting projects or before attending a judging contest. Item 103R.

A Guide to Raising Pigs
This comprehensive guide addresses the needs of families raising one or two pigs for food as well as those raising a herd of pigs for market or show. Readers will find advice for buying, feeding, transporting, breeding, and herd management. Step by step instructions for home butchering and pork processing are also included. Available through National 4-H Council.

Additional Materials

Swine Learning Lab Kit - Ohio State University
This kit includes units on anatomy, breeds, rabbitry management, conformation, handling & restraint, identification systems, health & sanitation, disqualifications & elimination and reproduction & genetics. These popular kits provide the basis for interactive learning experiences. Kit components include posters, labels, statements, demonstration items, and charts. All posters, charts, prints and situation/task statements are laminated for increased durability with answer keys on the reverse side. Kit includes Velcro to adhere to identification tags, and zipper pouches for tag storage. Each kit is packaged in a durable canvas carrying case for easy use, storage and transportation. Item 4036K.

Swine Learning Lab CD-ROM - Ohio State University
Based on the learning lab kit, this CD-ROM will provide you with interactive quiz exercises for study of: anatomy (external features), breed identification, conformation (feet and leg), meat science (retail and wholesale) and quality assurance (medication and safe handling). An Adobe Acrobat version of the Educators' Resource Materials Set, and Educators Curriculum Guide is included on the CD-ROM. Works on Macintosh and Windows. Item 4051CD.

Baby Pig Pattern 
This swine project training aid will help 4-H members make their own model swine by using the pattern in the book.  Activities that can be demonstrated on the swine are administering medication, identifying parts of the swine, and many others. Available through National 4-H Council.

 

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